The Committee for Ethnic Affairs advises the Montgomery County, MD County Executive and County Council on public policy that relates to ethnic affairs; promotes maximum involvement of all ethnic groups in the County in government, business and community affairs.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Montgomery
County Executive Ike Leggett announced today that nominations are being
accepted for the Montgomery Serves Awards and the Neal Potter Path of
Achievement Awards.

The
awards, along with the Roscoe Nix Award, will be presented on April 29 at Imagination
Stage in Bethesda. The event, organized by the Montgomery County Volunteer Center,
Fund for Montgomery (FFM) and the Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery
County (CVC-MC), will honor some of the County’s most outstanding community
leaders and dedicated volunteers. Andrea Roane, weekday morning anchor for WUSA
9, will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

“There
are so many dedicated and hardworking individuals in Montgomery County who
give freely of their time and talents to make this County a special place to
live, work and raise a family,” Leggett said in encouraging residents to submit
nominations of individuals, businesses and community groups for the
awards. “We launched this awards program last year to recognize the many
extraordinary people who work so hard every day to serve their community.”

Nominations
are now being sought from the public for two award categories:

· Neal Potter Path of Achievement Awards. In
partnership with the Commission on Aging and “The Beacon” newspaper, two
residents aged 60 and above will be selected for their lifetime of volunteer
service to the County. This annual award is named in memory of former CountyCouncilmember, County Executive and
longtime civic activist Neal Potter.

· 2012 Montgomery Serves Awards. The
awards recognize special volunteer accomplishments during the calendar year
2012 in three categories: Youth
Service Awards (individual youth 18 years and under and/or youth
groups); Business Service Awards (businesses
or corporations that engage their employees as community volunteers); and Community Service Awards (exemplary
volunteer service by individuals or community organizations).

Nominations will be
accepted until Monday, February 25 at 5 p.m. Additional information and
nomination forms can be found atwww.montgomeryserves.org or
by calling the Montgomery County Volunteer Center at 240-777-2600.
Winners are expected to be announced in mid-March.

The prestigious Roscoe
Nix Award was established by the County Executive to honor
community icon Roscoe Nix, who gave a half century of service to Montgomery County as
president of the Montgomery County Branch of the NAACP and as a member of the
Montgomery County Board of Education. First presented in 2012, the Nix award is
the County’s equivalent of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s
highest civilian award.

The Montgomery Serves
Awards, sponsored by the FFM, were created by Leggett and the Office of
Community Partnerships to solicit private funding to continue important
community-building events like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, World of Montgomery
Festival, Community Service Day and ethnic heritage events. The awards ceremony
is hosted by Montgomery County through the Volunteer Center,
with the assistance of the CVC- MC.

The event is free and
open to the public, but seating is limited and pre-registration is required.
Registration begins on February 11 atwww.montgomeryserves.org.

To help Montgomery County Recreation in developing a three-year plan to enhance
and improve recreational programs for older adults that promote their overall
health and wellness, the public is invited to attend a community meeting to
share their suggestions, thoughts and ideas about the types of recreational and
wellness programs they would like to see offered. The meeting will be
held on Tuesday, February 12, from 12:30 to 2 p.m., at the Mid-County Community Recreation Center, 2004
Queensguard Road, Silver Spring.

“Community involvement is critical to the development of our plan,” said
Montgomery County Recreation Director Gabriel Albornoz. “I am looking
forward to resident participation to help shape our future programs and
activity offerings for seniors and encourage residents to attend this community
meeting.”

Sign language interpreter services will be
provided only upon request with notice as far in advance as possible, but no
less than 72 hours prior to the event. If these or other services or aids are
needed to participate in this activity, call 240-777-6870 or TTY 240-777-6974 or
email a request to rec.mainstream@montgomerycountymd.gov.

County Executive Isiah
Leggett is committed to representation on all of the County’s boards,
committees, and commissions that is reflective of, and responsive to, our
County’s residents. Public participation contributes to the work of County
government and provides an important service to the community when a variety of
issues, concerns, and viewpoints are presented. Currently, there is a valuable
opportunity to serve on the following:

·Commission on Landlord-Tenant Affairs

The deadline for
application is February 22, 2013.

Please share this
notice with anyone who may be interested. You may access vacancy
announcements for boards, committees, and commissions through the following
link.

Applicants of diverse
backgrounds, professions, gender, geography, disability and ethnicity are
encouraged to apply. An application, consisting of abrief cover letter and
resume, should be sent by mail to County Executive Isiah Leggett, 101
Monroe Street, 2nd Floor, Rockville, MD 20850, or by email
to countyexecutive.boards@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Home and employment addresses, as well as contact phone numbers and email
addresses should be included. If appropriate, applicants should indicate the
position for which they are applying.

Members of County
boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at
a time. Members of these boards are eligible for reimbursement for travel and
dependent care for meetings attended. Leggett’s appointments are subject to confirmation
by the County Council. Applications of individuals selected for appointment are
made public as part of the confirmation process.

County Provides Free
Income Tax Assistance to Eligible Residents Through VITA

(Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance) Program

Montgomery County taxpayers with
incomes under $51,000 per year may be eligible for free income tax preparation
assistance through the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program,
sponsored by the County’s Community Action Agency, part of the Department of
Health and Human Services. Free tax services are also available through
the RSVP/AARP Tax Aide Program, Community Tax Aid, and at the Walter Reed
National Military Medical Center

IRS-certified volunteers helps eligible low-to-moderate income
working families and seniors quickly and safely claim refunds and tax
incentives, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit and
tax credits for the elderly and individuals who are disabled.

“One in four eligible households fail to claim the EITC each
year,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett. “I urge families to access
the free tax help because it puts money in the wallets and bank accounts of our
residents.”

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Commemorative Committee is seeking entries for
its literary arts contest in observance of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. The writing contest is open to all elementary, middle and high schools
students in MontgomeryCounty. Entries must be 150 words, or less, in poetry or
essay format. Entries will be judged on understanding and appreciation of the
ideals of Dr. King; clarity and originality of expression; and adherence to the
2013 theme, “HIS dream…iAct…WE change!”

The
deadline for submitting entries is Friday, December 14. Participating schools
should submit a maximum of three entries per school to the MLK Essay Contest,
c/o Montgomery County Office of Human Rights, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD
20850.

The
top two winners from all entries will be invited to read their essays and
receive an award presented by the County Executive and The Gazette Newspapers
as part of the County-wide MLK celebration on Sunday, January 20, 2013, at 3
p.m. at the Music Centerat Strathmore.

The winter
issue of the Montgomery County Guide for Recreation and Parks Programs is now
available. Recreation began accepting registrations for its winter programs and
classes on Monday, November 12. Registration for swim lessons opens on December
12. Residents are encouraged to register early as many programs fill up
quickly.

This issue
of the Winter Guide features hundreds of programs and activities for all ages,
interests and abilities that will help keep residents active during the winter
months. Some of the offerings include classes in creative and visual arts,
fitness and cooking. Seniors, age 55 and older, can enroll in the affordable
Senior Sneakers program and participate in senior trip and tour programs.

Registration
is offered in one of four ways: online, by mail, fax, or in person at the
Montgomery County Recreation Administrative Offices located at 4010 Randolph
Road,Silver Spring.

Print
copies of the Guide are available at recreation centers, park facilities,
government buildings and libraries. Residents who prefer receiving the Guide in
the mail can pay an annual subscription fee of $5 and receive a full year of
five issues (Summer, Fall, Winter, Summer Camps and Spring). To view the Guide
online, or to sign up for a subscription, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec.